Why should you
work with Forefront
Communications?

Quite simply, you’ll be happier with the results you get, and here’s why . . .

We know this space

Prepare for this to be obvious when you discuss your business with us or read the first draft of a marketing plan, press release or product sheet we’ve written. We understand the intricacies of the capital markets, like the difference between an exchange and an ATS, the evolving relationship between the buy- and sell-side and the role of HFTs in today’s markets. For you that means less time educating and re-writing, and peace of mind in knowing that the agency you hired actually gets it.

It’s not our first rodeo

What really sets Forefront apart is our experience. We’ve developed and executed numerous strategic plans and product launches, written dozens of collateral pieces and website pages, and organized hundreds of events. As for communications, it’s been countless newsletters and press releases, acquisition announcements, executive speeches and corporate reorganization memos. Whatever challenge comes your way, chances are we’ve handled it many times before.

We’ve sat in your seat

Forefront’s Managing Partners average close to twenty years each on the client side. We know firsthand what it means to be accountable for building a brand, running a group, hitting a revenue target or managing a communications crisis. We’ve hired, managed and fired marketing and communications agencies several times over. We know what quality work and good value look like. And that’s what we deliver.

It’s you, before us

At Forefront, our number one priority is delivering exceptional results — period. Our energy and resources are spent on servicing our clients and not on our own promotional events or lavish office space. Perhaps this is why we’ve never lost a client to a competing agency and why our business has grown solely through referrals from happy clients.

We’re plugged in

As well as we know the inner workings of the capital markets, we also know the people involved. The reporters, editors, thought leaders, analysts, influencers, vendors and practitioners – an ecosystem we can easily tap into if necessary for the counsel, insight or skills we need to ensure everything we do for you exceeds expectations.

Services

We provide marketing and communications strategy and the optimal combination of services to help you strengthen your brand, attract and retain clients and navigate through periods of significant change

Marketing

Marketing

Brand Strategy

Lead Generation

Sales Collateral

Pitchbooks

Event Planning

Logo & Template Design

Communications

Communications

Message Development

Client Communications

Employee Comms

M&A Communications

Speech Writing

Thought Leadership

Public Relations

Public Relations

Media Relations

Analyst Relations

Speaking Engagements

Press Releases

Award Submissions

Media Training

Digital

Digital

Websites

Marketing Automation

Landing Pages

Corporate Videos

Product Demo Videos

Social Media

Clients

The roster of firms we’ve worked with runs the gamut, from the biggest names in the industry to startups looking to build their brand to niche players seeking to fortify their position

What Our Clients Say

Hiring a small boutique instead of a larger agency can be a risky call. But we felt the veteran Forefront team understood our business and the capital markets very well, and would be the best choice to tell our story. Forefront has delivered as promised, leveraging its deep network of contacts to help us significantly raise our media profile.- Jonathan Clark | CEO, Luminex Trading & Analytics

Ours is an extremely difficult business for marketing and PR firms to master, and Forefront’s ability to put our story into the proper perspective based on their understanding of the capital markets really sets them apart. We’ve been blown away by their knowledge of the trading space.- Peter Maragos | CEO, Dash Financial Technologies

I'm very proud of what we've been able to accomplish through our marketing program. From rebuilding our website to introducing new content ideas to launching a hugely successful lead generation program via Hubspot, Forefront has had a profound impact on REDI's business.- Rishi Nangalia | Head of Thomson Reuters REDI

We had an ambitious timeline for launching the new Vela brand. Forefront stepped in quickly and worked seamlessly with us to provide both strategic guidance and tactical execution. We were extremely pleased with the launch, and Forefront was a big part of making it a success.- Jennifer Nayar | CEO, Vela Trading Technologies

Forefront built for us a website that is simple, clean and eye-catching. Our web presence is now a point of differentiation for our firm. It was developed efficiently and without the need for much input, which allowed us to focus on running our business rather than hand-holding an agency.- Kevin Samuel | CEO, LiquidityBook

Forefront has been fantastic to work with throughout our engagement. They understood our business and industry well enough to tell our story in a clear and concise manner from the outset. I was dubious that an agency could step right in on our business, but Forefront gets it.- Eric Sontag | President, PortfolioShop

Leadership

Mark Dowd

Managing Partner

Over his nearly 20-year career, Mark has worked with a wide swath of trading technology brands on projects spanning the marketing and communications spectrum. Prior to founding Forefront, Mark built REDI’s marketing platform following its spinout from Goldman Sachs. Before that he spent nearly a decade with Nomura’s Instinet subsidiary, helping reposition its brand from ECN to technology-enabled agency broker-dealer. Along the way he also helped launch the firm’s Chi-X exchange businesses globally.

Eric Soderberg

Managing Partner

Eric brings 20+ years of financial services and fintech marcomms experience to Forefront Communications. Prior to joining the company Eric served as CMO of several industry leading firms, running the global marketing, PR and communications activities at Macgregor, ClariFI, NYFIX, Trepp, BondDesk Group and Convergex. Eric helped these businesses succeed in highly competitive markets by implementing cost-effective and creative programs that drove revenues, built client loyalty and strengthened their brands.

Michael C. Kingsley

Senior Vice President

Michael’s 20+ years of experience encompass global public relations, journalism and media production. Prior to joining Forefront, Michael held senior positions at Intermarket Communications and Emanate PR, helping firms across the capital markets tell their stories, with clients including Société Générale, RBC, Eagle Asset Management, Broadhaven Capital Partners and Street Contxt. On the client side, Michael served as Head of Media Relations at Convergex. A veteran TV producer (Bloomberg Television and Fox News Channel), Michael leads Forefront’s media and presentation training practice.

Jon Teall

Senior Vice President

Jon brings a wealth of journalism and strategic communications experience, having worked in the capital markets communications industry for almost 30 years. Jon began his career as a broadcast journalist, eventually working as a Wall Street reporter for CNBC. He later served as head of global communications at DCR Credit Rating Agency and head of global communications for The Bond Market Association. Prior to joining Forefront Jon lead Teall & Associates, a PR firm that represented clients including the ISDA, the Wholesale Markets Brokers’ Association, PriceMetrix, BNP Paribas and KPMG.

Rafi Reguer

Senior Consultant

Rafi brings a deep background in the capital markets with a career that spans 25+ years. As senior consultant for Forefront Communications, Rafi assists the firm with its market structure-intensive clients. Prior to joining Forefront, Rafi served as head of marketing and communications for Direct Edge. Before that, he spent nearly 10 years at Track Data corp, eventually becoming Chief Marketing Officer, and TD Waterhouse, serving in a variety of senior marketing roles. Rafi began his career at Thomson Financial, serving as associate publisher for the precursor publication to Securities Industry News.

John Riley

Head of Content

JR’s background includes over 20 years of marketing and communications experience, primarily in the technology and financial services industries. At Forefront he is responsible for writing whitepapers, bylined articles, marketing collateral copy and other pieces of content for the firm’s clients. Prior to working with Forefront, JR has led marketing efforts for several venture-backed start-ups, including Apparent Networks, WorldStreet and Mazu Networks. He has also held senior marketing positions at Novell, State Street and Houghton Mifflin.

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About Forefront

Forefront Communications Group Inc. is a boutique marketing and PR firm focused on the capital markets and fintech. Forefront applies deep sector knowledge, hands-on experience, industry connections and a client-first approach to ensure that its clients get greater results and value than from any other agency.